Scrap-bunch machine



June 5, 1928. 1,672,503

R. E. RUNDELL SCRAP BUNCH MACHINE Filed Sept, 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV NTOR ATTo RNEY 1 June 5, 1928. 1,672,503

I R. E. RUNDELL SCRAP BUNCfl MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 vim/[mm June 5, 1928. I 1,672,503

R. E. RUNDELL S CRAP BUNCH MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 4 tween the two,

Patented June 5, 1928.

uiu'rao STATES.

A 1,672,503 PATENT OFFICE.

RUPERT E. RUNDELL, OF BOCKVILLECENTEB, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 INTERNA- TIONAL CIGAR MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SCRAP-BUNCH MAiIIHIlHE.

Application filed September 25,

This invention relates to an improved scrap bunch machine of the type wherein bunches are made of scrap to acco, to be afterward enclosed within a wrapper to form a cigar.

. In scrap bunch machines heretofore com mercially used, tobacco feeding means an I bunch forming means have been closecoupled so that the feeding means discharges directly into ile size, as it usually is when out for the purpose from the cheaper grades of tobacco, yet 1n 5' the manufacture of cigars of the higher grades, pieces of scrap are unavoidably produced which differ widely in size, and it is notdesirable to cut the larger pieces to make them of the same size as the smaller pieces. 90 It is preferable that they be used as they are for the reason that'the bunch into which they are incor orated will be stronger and will hold its s age better during manufacture and also a er transformation into a cigar by the application of a wrapper there- The known scrap bunch machines will not successfully handle .a mixture of =-large and small scraps, for the .reason that they will not run in the same way in the machine so and the latter becomes clogged at a point between the feeding means and the bunch forming means.

The main object of the present invention is the production of a machine that Wlll make satisfactory cigar bunches from a mixture of large and small scrap, and it has been found that this may be accomplished by separating tobacco feeding means an bunch forming means, and introducing, be-

tobacco forwarding means and coactingmechanism for uniformly rearranging the tobacco scraps as they move from the feeding means to the bunch formin means; With this and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain combinations and constructions hich will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto apperi ed.

In the accompanying form a part of this s ecification and in which like characters 0 reference indicate the same or like parts, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevabeltof the latter;

a pusher drawings, which 1925. Serial 1T0. 58,566.

tion of the machine shownin Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the tobacco re-arranging mechanism; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a part of the structure shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an elevation of the feed controlling mechanism and forwarding means drive; Fig. 6 is a'fragmentary View of a part of the feed controlling mechanism; and Figs. 7 to 11 inclusivediagrammatically illustrate the action of the mechanism whereby the tobacco is transferred from the forwarding means to the bunch forming means and delivered to the pocket of the chianti In carrying the invention into effect, there is provided tobacco feeding means'for automatically feeding a mixture of large and small scraps from a mass of the same, relatively distant bunch forming means for making bunches of individual charges of large and small scraps, means for forwarding the tobacco from the feeding means to the forming means, andmechanism coacting with the forwarding means touniformly re-arrange the tobacco during transit so that when the stream of tobacco reaches the forming mechanism it Wlll be uniform in density with the larger scraps properly positioried among the smaller scraps.

In the best construction contemplated, the feeding means includes a removable hopper having an open bottom discharging directly to; the forwarding means, and the hopper has flexible walls which are moved back and forth during the operation of the machine to work thetobacco scraps down through the open bottom of the hopper to'the forwarding means; the bunch forming means includes operating to remove individual charges of scrap from the forwarding means after they have been severed from the forwarded mass, and it also includes a charging plunger and a housing therefor, said housing having a hinged wall acting firstly as a chute to receive a charge from the forwardwe ing means and direct it to the charging plunger and acting secondly to close the housing ahead of the plunger so that the tobacco cannot become jammed between the plunger and housing wall; the forwarding 1 5 means includes an intermittently operatifig belt the operating run of which extends from the feeding means to the bunch forming means and carries the tobacco with it; and said mechanism includes a train of no rotating rakers above and spaced from said In order that this result maybe efi'ected, belt, the function of these rakers being to the stream of scraps is carried along b the kick the lumps out of the tobacco stream belt 40 between channel Walls 50' an 51, as it is forwarded, thus re-arranging the the belt being prevented from sagging by same during transit. All of the abovemena horizontal late 52 secured to supports 70 tioned means, mechanism, and parts, may be 39 and 46. he mechanism for re -arrang- Widely varied in construction within the ing the tobacco stream coaets with the belt scope of the claims, for the particular struc- 510 so supported. And as the tobacco travels ture selected to illustrate the invention is along in the channel it is engaged by a m but one of many possible embodiments of plurality of tandem- -shaped rakers 53 75 the same. The invention, therefore, is not carried by shafts 54, 55, and 56, there bein to be restricted to the precise details of the three raking members on each of the shafts structure shown and described. 5a and 56, and two raking members on each lhlcferring to the drawi gs: Tobacco scra s, of the shafts 55, the raking members bcin is large and small, are is together into t e mounted on the several shafts in staggered conical hopper 15, Figs. 1 and 2, which has relationship. The rakers enga e the top flexible walls of a suitable fabric.- The hopor the stream of tobacco at t e various per is provided with astifiening board 16 points where it may be too thick, and kick on one of its sides, and a similar stifi ening back the surplus into places where it may be board 1'? on the other. To theboard 16 is tori thin, thus rearranging the tobacco in 8 secured a plate 18 which is held in position the stream and making it uniform in density by means of a screw 19 and nut 20. The where delivered to the bunch forming plate 18 is provided with lugs 21, 21 into mechanism.

which are secured rods 22, 22, passing 'The' ralrer shafts pass through the archeld in position by means of set screws 25. "ave bearing in the gear box 57, each shaft lily means of this construction, the hop er having mounted on it a spur gear 58 mesh- 15 is made adjustable for height and readily in with intermediate gears 59. removable for replacement or for discharg The shaft 56 passes through the outer wall log at the end of a machine run. of the gear box and, having bearing in the 95 A plate 26 is secured to the board 17 support 60," carries at its extremity beyond by means of the screw 27 and nut 28, the the bearing a sprocket 61. The gear box plate 26 having guide lugs 29 sliding on 57 is pivoted on the shaft 56 and may be a horizontal guide rod 30 fastened in a given any desired inclination bymeans of bracket 31 to which are secured rods 32- 'a clamp screw 63 locking the slotted bar which pass throu h lugs 33 on the feed 6t attached to the gear box 57 against the box 24: before re erred to. The plate 26 channel wall 51. This brings the ralrers also has a lug 35 to which is pivotally from the rear forward progressively nearer secured a link '36 having hinged conne ortarther away from the belt as may be 40 tion with a lever 37 fulcrumed at the lug found compatible with the uantity and COIL, ms

ment of the scraps oi?v tobacco therein he adj sting screw 66.

38 oil the feed box support 39. A. rockin sistency oi the scrap, to e put into the motion is imarteol to the lever 37 whic bunches. The tobacco subsequently passes keeps the sic of the hopper l5 shaking under the smooth roller which is adback and forth to induce a downward move Justable as to height, as by operation or 110 through the open bottom of the hopper d} After the tobacco stream has been thus reetly on to the belt 40 of the forwarding uniformly rearranged, it passes into the means which transports the tobacco in the ng 9f i n of the knives 67 and 68 bunch forming means. Thi belt rung which cut it into individual charges in the 50 over a pulley ll mounted in the slotted usual m nn 5 brackets 42 of the feed box 26, and over a Th6 Parts S0 lm rib d r c uated pulley 43 on the shaft llrotatably mount as follows (Fl al, uad 5). To n arm 69 edin the bracket 45 which is secured to the of the lever '3 1s p voted a rod which support 46 which, like the feed boar slip is also pivoted on a 10111.71 oi the sprocket 72,-

-55 port 39, is=mounted on the table a? supwhich, through the agency oil a chain 73, 120

ported by the frames 48 and t9. actuates the s roclret 61 on the ralier shaft As the large and small scraps of tobacco 56, thus causing all the ralters to turn in are worked down from the mass in the the direction a the arrow. The sprocket hopper to the forwarding belt, a continuous 32 is mounted on a shaft 7 lha-ving bearing e stream is formed on the belt, but as they, in a bracket and also having mounted on 225 do not-run in the same way, this stream is it a sprocket 76 actuating through a chain more or less uneven in density and the 7 a sproclret F8 on the shaft id of the front scraps must be rearranged to eliminate the belt pulley 43 which drives the forwarding unevenness in order that uniform bunches belt 40.. Un the shaft 74: is also mounted a as may be made farther along in the machine. spur gear 79 meshing with a gear 80 on the x30 through lugs 23, 23 ct a feed box 24%, and shaped slots 62 of the channel wall 51 and W amazes after it has been re-arranged. The shaft 1 81 has mounted on it a bevel gear 87 meshing with the gear 88 on the shaft 89 of the intermittent motion device to be described hereinafter. The bracket carries the cross bracket 90 having the idlers 91 and 92 which tighten the chain 77 and 73 respectively. The knives are actuated as follows: The knife 68, sliding between guides 93 and 94, has a pin 95 engaging the slot 96 of a bell crank 97 which is pivotally mounted on a boss 98 of the support 46 and has arms 99 and 100. The arm 99 is pivotally connected to a rod 101 which in turn is pivotally connected to the cam lever 102 mounted on a fulcrum shaft103 supported in the frames 48 and 49. The lever- 102 has a roller 104 in engagement cam disc 145, being fixedly mounted on the cam shaft 107. The arm 100, by means of the link 108, is movably connected to the arm 109 of the lever 110 mounted on the shaft 111 rotating in the bearing 112 of the support 46. The lever gaging a pin 114 of the knife 67. The vertical movementof the rod 101, imparted to it by the cam track 105 and operating connections, thus causes the knives to slide in their guides in opposite directions, in the usual manner. 'At the end of the cutting stroke, the edges of the knives meet andoverlap slightly, thus closing the passage and cutting the tobacco stream into individual. charges, each sufficient for one bunch.

When the tobacco stream has been cutto separate therefrom an individual charge, all

the parts operated by the chain and sprocket transmission are stopped by the intermittent motion device, thus keeping the, feeding mechanism stationary while the tobacco is being pushed from the forwarding means to the bunch forming means.

The intermittent motion device (Figs. 5 and 6) has the sprocket 115 fixedly mounted on the sleeve 116 rotatably mounted on the shaft 89 and driven through the chain 117 the sprocket 118 on the cam shaft 107. A lever 119 is fast on the sleeve 116. This lever carries a pawl 120 provided with a stud 121 on which is mountedv a roller 122. spring 123 keeps the pawl 120 in engagement with a ratchet wheel 124 fast on the shaft 89. The roller 122 periodically engages cams 125 and 126, the cam 126 being 127 on the support 128, and held by screws 129. The cam 126 is provided with studs 130 protruding through the slots 131 of the cam 125, permitting the angular relation of the two cams to be altered and subsequently fixed by tightening nuts 132 on the studs with the cam track 105 of the a 110 has a slot 113 en-.

I and close the housing in A accomplished by fast to a bracket 130. By changing the angular relation of these cams, the dwell of the roller can be lengthened or shortened. As soon as the roller 122 is lifted by the cams, the pawl 120 is disengaged from the ratchet wheel and consequently the shaft 89 ceases to rotate, thus stopping the forwarding belt, rakers, roller, and the shaking device of the, hopper. As soon as the roller has passed over the cams and reaches the gap between the rear end of the track of the cam 126 and the forward end of the track of the cam 125, the spring 123 pulls ment with the ratchet wheel, and this action is repeated periodically. -By diminishing the dwell of the roller on the came, the period of travel of the forwardi'ngbelt is lengthened, thus producing a longer bunch. By increasing the dwell, the reverse occurs.

After the individual charge has been severed from the forwarded stream of tobacco, it is pushed sidewise off the forwarding belt 40 into the range of action of the bunch forming means. This is accomplished by means of a plate 133 (Fig. 2) carrying(a roller 134 running over a supporting brac et 135 and over the forwarding belt40. The plate 133 has an arm 136 pivoted on a pin 137 carried by a bell crank 138, a spring 139 keeping the plate and roller pressing downwardly on the bracket 135'and belt 40. The bell crank 138 is fulcrumed on a pin 140 in a boss 98 of the sup ort 46, an is actuated by means of aro 1.41 pivotally connected with a cam lever 142 pivoted on the fulcrum shaft 103 and having a roller 143 engaging with the cam track "144 of the cam 145 on the cam shaft. 107.

The plate 133 pushes upper surface of a chute 147 which is hinged on a pin 148 and movable between the plates 149 and having a bracket 150 carrying a roller 151, thespring 152 tending to keep the plate 147 swung) outward. The chute 147 is guided in the racket 153 fastened to the support 46 and has a lug'154 engaging with the roller 151 on its downward stroke which causes the plate147 to swing forward which the charging plunger 163 operates, so that all the tobacco deposited in the chute will be placed ahead of the plunger before the latter descends.

. The housing, formed by the parts 146, 147 and 149, is movable verticall This is means of a lin 155 connected to a lever 156 ful'crumed on the boss 98 of the su port 46 and connected through the push r0 157 with the bell crank 158 on the fulcrum shaft 103. 'The bell crank 158 125 has a roller .159 which is kept in contact, by a spring 160, with the open cam 161 on the cam disc 162 on the cam shaft 107 Inside of the is a charging plunger 163 having a cigarshaped recess l64'in its bottom. It is prothe charge on to the housing, and guided by it,

the pawl down in engagelit . otcd on t vided with the plum erred 195 which slides through theguide racket 196 secured to the support 46. The top of the plunger rod has a pin 167 engaging a slot 168 in a -lever 169 which is pivoted on a boss 179 of the support at, the lever extension, 169% be ing actuated by the pushrod .171 connected with the lever 172 mounted on the -hilcrurn shaft 193 and having a roller 173 kept in engagement with the open cam 1741 by means or a spring 175.

Downward movement of plunger 163 within its housing resultsin depositing the charge in the loop of a chianti belt 176 fastened to the rolling table 177 which, at its outer. end is provided with a spring clamp 178 which receives'and holds a bunch after formation in the chianti belt. The belt roller 179 (Figs. 1 and 2) is mounted on a bracket 189 or a lever 181 pivotally mounted on a support'182 and having a lug 183 with knuckle joint 184 connected by a rod 187 to the knuckle joint 185 or a lever 186 pivoted on the shaft 188. @scillating motion is imparted to the lever 189 by means of, a lever 189 which carries a roller 199 en aging the track 191 of a cam 192 mounted on the shalt 197, the roller 199 bein also mounted on a lever 193 pive tulcrumshalt 19a. The 'chianti belt 176 is periodically slackened and tightened by means or" a rod 195 (Fig. 2) on the bracket 196 or a lever 197 mounted on the fulcrum shaft 194:. Pivoted on the lever 197 is the bracket 198 which is adjustable by'means-ot screws 199 and has a roller 299 in-engagernent with the cam 291 of the disc 145 which imparts a periodical back the charging J and forth movement to the rod 195.

Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive illustrate the combined actions of charg plunger and housing. In Fig. 7'the charge isbeing pushed onto the chute 1417, the plunger and housing both beingjin their-highest positions. In Fig. 8 the housing has moved down and is closed with the chargeahead'oli the plungerwhich is'still in its highest position. The downward movement or the housing has formed the loo in the chianti belt. In Fig. 9 the plunger receivin its preliminary shape in the recess of the plunger. 1n 19 the housing has moved up, the plunger remaining down, and in Fig. 11 the plunger has moved up, the roller has moved forward and the charge is in process of being rolled into a loch.

Motive power for the machine is furnished by a motor 292 mounted on the bracket 293, the motor actuating clutch 292 having a sleeve shaft 295 on which is mounted pinion 299 meshing with gear 297 on the shaft 298 which, through-gears 209 and 210, actuates the camshaft 197 supported in hanger bearings 211'and hrame 18. The clutch is periodically thrown out of action lug 212 on the as'moved down, the charge gear 297 engaging a roller 219 one. rod 214 slidingly supported in relation with a bracket 218 fastened to the shaft 219 which passes through the sleeve shaft. 295 to the clutch levers. held in engagement with the clutch disc by a coil spring. Whenthe clutch is disengaged, it can be put into action again by pressing down on the foot lever 229 on the shaft 221 on which is fixedly mounted a lever 222 which is connected by .a rod 223 to the tumbling links 216 and 217. This pulls the links down and allows the rod 219 to slide outward through the sleeve shaft andpress the clutch levers against the clutch disc.

1f it is desired to stop the machine in themiddle or a cycle or operation, this can be ell'ected by turning to the left the hand lever 22a mounted on the'shaft 225 on which is mounted a cam 226 whichengages the bracket 218, which moves the shaft 219 to the left and disengages the clutch.- The machine cannot be started .whilethe. hand lever 22a is to the left.

For the purposes of trial and adjustment the machine can be turned over by hand by means of a crank 227 on the sh 228 on which is mounted a bevel gear 229 meshing with another 239 on the sleeve shaft 205.

Generally speaking, the tobacco feeding means and the bunch forming means are well known in the art and a more detailed description of the same is deemed to be unnecessary to a full understanding of the present invention, and in view or this and of the foregoing, a detailed description or the operation or the entire machine is omitted in the interest of brevity.

v'lilihat is claimed is:

1. A scra bunch machine comprising tobacco reedlng means, relatively distant hunch tormin ing tobacco rom said feeding means to said forming means, and mechanism coacting with said forwarding means to uniiiormly rearrange the tobacco forwarded thereby, said bunch forming means includifng a charging plunger and a housing theresaid housing having a hinged wall acting firstly as a chute to receive a charge from said forwarding means and secondly to close said housing ahead oil said plunger.

2. A. scrap bunching machine comprising tobacco feeding means, relatively distant bunch forming means, means for forwardmeans, means for forwarding tobacco from said feeding meansto said forming means, and mechanism coacting with said forwarding means to uniformly re-arrange the tobacco, forwarded thereby,

said forwarding means including a tobaccocarrying belt, and said mechanism including a train of rotating rakers above and spaced from said belt. 1 3. A scra I bunch machine com rising tobacco fee ing means, relatively istant forming means,

- re-arrange the tobacco of shafts carried by said frame, a plurality said feeding means to said and mechanism coacting means to uniformly forwarded thereby, said forwarding means including a tobaccocarrying belt, and said mechanism including a train of rotating'rakers above and space ing tobacco from with said forwarding from saidbelt, and means supporting said rakers and permitting a change in the spaced relation of said rakers andsaid belt.

4. A scra "bunch machine comprising tobacco fee ing means, relatively distant bunch forming means, means for forwarding tobacco from said feeding means to said forming means, and mechanism coacting with said forwarding means to uniformly re-arrange the tobacco forwarded thereby, said mechanism including aplurality of devices successively acting on the tobacco in said forwarding means. 5. A scrap bunch machine comprising tobacco feeding means, relatively distant bunch forming means, means for forwarding tobacco from said feeding means to said forming means, and mechanism coacting with said forwarding means to uniformly re-arrange the tobacco forwarded thereby, said mec anism including a frame extending along said forwarding means, a plurality in means, and means. for rotating of carried by said shafts, and gearing simultaneously rotating said shafts.

6.'A' -scra bunch machine comprising tobacco fee ing means, relatively ,distant bunch forming means, means for forwarding tobacco from said feeding means to said forming means, and mechanism coacting jwith said forwarding means to uniformly re-arrange the. tobacco forwarded thereby,

said mechanism including a plurality of tandem S-shaped rakers along said. forward in means, and means for rotating said ra ers.

- 7, A scrap bunch machine comprising tobacco feeding means, relatively distant bunch forming means, means for forwarding tobacco-from said feeding means to said forming .means, and mechanism coacting with said forwarding means to uniformly re-arrange the tobacco forwarded thereby said mechanism including a plurality of tandem S-shaped rakers along said forwardra ers, apart of said rakers consisting of an even number of tobacco-engaging members and-a part of an uneven'number of tobacco-engaging members, said members being arranged in sta gered relationship. testimony whereo I have signed my name to this specification.

UPERT E. .RUNDELL.

said 

